Control for hydraulic grease dispensers



Aug. 7, 1934. A. BIZZARRI CONTROL FOR HYDRAULIC GREASE DISPENSERS Filed May 12, 1933 & IN V EN TOR. $9 fi w W1 w M? U W A TTORNEYS CONTROL FOR HYDRAULIC GREASE DISPENSERS I Anthony Bizzarri, New York,,N. Application May 12, 1933, Serial No. 670,655

" lit Claims. (01. 221- 111) My present invention relates togrease-dispensing devices and more particularly to controls for automatically regulating the volume of how of lubricating substances; such as heavy 5 grease, to the place where it is to be used, depending upon the resistance with which such flow meets at the place receptive thereof. One of the objects of my present invention isto provide devices of the general character specified, which are simple in construction, easy and economical to fabricate and assemble, and which are admirably adapted to perform the functions heretofore mentioned.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will in part be pointed out hereinafter and will in part be obvious to one skilled in the art to which the present invention relates.

In the accompanying specification I shall describe and in the annexed drawing show an illustrative embodiment of a grease-dispensing device provided with control ineansmade in accordance with the present invention, it is however, to be clearly understood that I do not wish to be limited to the exact details of the aforesaid illustrative embodiment of the present invention herein shown and described for purposes of illustration only.

In the accompanying drawing, Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view taken substantially through the center of a grease-dispensing device provided with controls made in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view taken along lines 22 of Fig. 1; and

35 Fig. 3 is a fragmentary front elevational view of the same, partially broken awayto show the interior construction.

Referring now more in detail to the aforesaid illustrative embodiment of the present invention 40 and with particular reference to the drawing illustrating the same, the numeral 5 generally designates a rectangular carriage supported at its four corners upon casters 6, the upper surface of the carriage 5 being provided with an annular upstanding flange 7 receptive of a double container 8. The double container 8 consists of an outer bottom wall 9 providedwith'a central opening closed by a cap 10. Rising from the periphery of the outer bottom wall 9 is acylindrical outer side wall 11 connected at the top thereof with a sloping annular upper wall 12. The latter has integrally formed therewith a cylindrical inner side wall 13 extending within the outer side wall 11' and which is closed at its lower end by an inner bottom wall 14. The inner bottom wall 14 is provided with a central opening 15 surrounding which, on the outer surface of the wall 14, is

a valve seat 16 adapted to cooperate with a valve 17, the purpose of which Willlater be described. The valve 17 is carried on the lower threaded 9 end of a rod 18 extending upwardly throughthe center of the double container 8, and is-provided at its upper end with a handle 19 adapted -to retain in place a cover 20, the handle maintaining the cover in close contact with the point of con- 5 nect'ion 21 between the upper wall 12 and the inner wall 13. Slidable on the rod 18and closely fitting the innerwall 13 is a follower '22, the undersurface of which has fixed thereto a chain 23, the lower end'of which is secured to a by-pass 7 valve 24 controlling 'a passage 25 communicating between an oil'reservoir 26 formed between the outer Walls and the inner walls of the double container 8 and the oil-receiving lower portion 27 of a grease-reservoir 28 formed within the 5 inner wall 13 and above the follower 22. 7

Fixed to the undersurface of the carriage 5 is an electric motor 29, the shaft 30 of which is connected by a coupling 31 with a stub-shaft 32 journalled in a bearing 33. formed in a pump 0 housing 34 carried by the carriage. The end of the stub-shaft 32 within the housing 34 has secured thereto a ball-bearing eccentric 35 adapted to successivelyand progressively operate a plurality of radially disposed pumps carried in the housing 34, and bei'ng'shown in the draw ing, as 3 oil pumps 36 and3 grease pumps 37. Inasmuch as all of the oil pumpsare similar, only one need here be described. Each of the pumps 36 consist of a cylinder 36 within which there is adapted to reciprocate a spring-pressed piston 36". Inasmuch as all of the grease pumps 37 are similar, only one of the same need be described. Each of the grease pumps 3'1 includes a cylinder 37 within which there is adapted to reciprocate'aspring-pressed piston 37".

The pump housing 34 is provided with an annular passage 38 from which branch off 3 oil pump inlets 39. The housing is further provided with 3 oil pump outlets 40 controlled by valves 41, the, outlets 40 in turn communicating with an annular passage 42 connecting with a pipe 43 extending upwardly through the bottom wall 9 of the oil reservoir 26, passing through the latter and extending throughthe bottom wall 14 of the lower portion '27 of the-grease-reservoir 28. The annular passage 38 also communicates with an inlet passage 44'communicating with'a passage 45 formed in a casting 46, thelast named 110 passage connecting with a pipe 47 extending within the oil reservoir 26.

The pump housing 34 is also provided with another annular passage 48 from which branch off 3 grease pump inlets 49. The housing is further provided with 3 grease pump outlets 5c controlled by valves 51, the outlets communicating with a final annular passage 52. The annular passage 52 communicates with an outlet port 53 and the annular passage 42 communicates with an inletpassage 54 which in turn is connected with another passage 55 formed in the casting 46, the latter passage communicating with a pipe 56 extending upwardly throughthe oil reservoir 26 and opening into the grease-reservoir 28.

The outlet port 53 communicates with a hose 57 to which there is connected an operating member generally designated by reference character 58. The operating member 58 consists of a passage 59 in communication with the hose 57,

an outlet passage 60 and an intermediate passage 61 communicating between the passages 59 and 60 and in which there is a spring-pressed ball valve 62 controlling such communication. The ball valve 62 bears against a pin 63 which in turn is operated by a pivoted handle 64. The outletpassage 6O communicates with an additional hose 65 at the endof which there is provided a bayonet coupling 66 of conventional construction. 7

I have thusdescribed a grease-dispensing device with which the control means constituting the present invention may be used with admirable success, it being understood of course that any other grease-dispensing device can be used in connection with the control of the present invention, and this will be obvious from the description of the control means itself which is as follows:

The gist of the present invention is a means for controlling the volume of oil delivered from the oil-reservoir 26, by way of the oil pumps 36 to the oil-receiving lower portiorr2'. of the grease reservoir 28 and the volume of grease delivered from the grease reservoir 28 to the hose 5'7 by way of the grease pumps 37, sucl1 means being automatic in operation and depending upon the resistance with which the grease meets at the outlet, or coupling 66. I I I .Such control means consists of a pair of sliding valves 44 and 54 to which are secured pins 67, the diameters of which are less than the di ameters of the passages 44 and 54. The outer surface of the valve 44 has fixed-thereto a pin 68 extending within the port 53 so as to be acted upon, as Win later be described, by the pressure of the grease within the port 53. The inner pin 67 has fixed thereto a piston 'GQaga'inst which bears a spring '70the tension of which is adjustable by, means of a set screw 71, the spring '20 and set screw 71 being housed by a cylinder 72.

This-completes the description of the aforesaid illustrative embodiment of the control means for grease-dispensing devices of the present invention. It is believed that the mode of operation and use is apparent from the foregoingdescription, but for the sak of clarity, the same may be briefly summarized as follows:

To begin with the reservoir 26 is filledwitha relatively'light oil, the follower 22 is at the bottom of the grease reservoir 28 and the latter is filled with a relatively heavy grease. Through the motor 29-the eccentric 35 is operated which in turn acts upon the plungers 36" and 37 respectively of the oi-land grease pumps 36 and by-pass valve 24 will open to permit the access 37. Oil from the reservoir 26 is drawn through the pipe 47 passages and 44 to the annular passage 38 from where it is distributed through the inlets 39 to the pumps 36. From the pumps 36 the oil is forced through the outlet passages 40 past the valves 41 and into the annular passage 42. From this point the oil passes by way of the pipe 43 into the lower portion 27 of the grease container 28, beneath the follower 22. As the hydraulic pressure is built up beneath the follower 22 the latter is forced upwardly thus forcing the grease above the same in the reservoir 28 out of the reservoir 28 and through the pipe 56 and passages and 54 to the annular passage 42 from where it is distributed by means of the inlets 49 to the grease pumps 37. From the grease pumps the grease passes through the outlets 50past the valves 51 and into the annular passage 52. From this point the grease enters the port 53 and passes out of the housing 34 by .way of the hose 57'. l The operator when desiring to lubricate some piece of machinery with heavy grease, secures the bayonet coupling 66 in place upon the device to be lubricated and depresses the handle 64. This opens the'valve 62 and permits the grease to flow from the hose 57 through the passages 59, 61 and to the additional hose 65 from where it is conveyed to the device to be lubricated through the coupling 66. 7

As the resistance met with by the grease being fed to the device to be lubricated increases, as when the device to be lubricated is approaching the point where it needs no further lubrication, a back pressure is built up in the port53. This pressure acts upon the pin 68 to cause the valves 1m 44' and 54' to slide longitudinally so as to effect a closing of the inletpassages heretofore de:

scribed, with the oil and grease pumps 36 and'37.

The result of the gradual closing off these passages is to reduce the volume of the oil delivered from the reservoir 26 to the lower portion 27 of the grease reservoir 28, beneath the follower 22 and the volume of the grease delivered from the reservoir 28 to the place Where it is to be used for lubrication. The greater the resistance met with at the coupling 26 the greater the extent of closing of the sliding valves 44 and 54 sothat eventually, even though the handle 64 is still depressed and the valve 62, open, and the motor 29 continues to operate the pumps 36 and 37, no additional grease will be delivered through the coupling 66. At that time the operator will release the handle 64 thus closing the valve 62 and maintaining the slide valves 44 and 54 under pressure,

effectively keeping the passages '44 and 54 closed.

As soon as the coupling 66 is, attached to another device to be lubricated and the handle 64 depressed to open the valve 62 the pressure in the system will be reduced so that the spring 70 can return the slide valves44' and 54 to their open positions permitting a. continuation of the flow of oil and grease. It will be. obvious that the pressure at which theslide valves 44' and 54' will operate may be regulated by the set screw '71,

the greater the tension of the spring '70 the more resistance beingv necessary at the coupling 66to effect aclosing of the, valves 44'; and 54'.

When the follower 22reaches a predetermined height, the chain 23 will be pulled. taut and the.

reservoir 28 and; the follower 22 is at the top of the grease reservoir and the entire greasereservoir beneath such follower is filled with oil,-the handle 19 may be manipulated to remove the cover and open the valve 17 to permit the oil within the grease reservoir to pass out of the same and into the oil reservoir 26.

This completes the description of the mode of operation and use of the aforesaid illustrative embodiment of the present invention, and it will be apparent from all of the foregoing that the devices of the present invention are simple in construction, easy and economical to fabricate and assemble, and are admirably adapted to perform their intended function. Other superiorities and advantages of the devices of the present invention will be obvious to those skilled in the art to which the present invention relates.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. In combination with a grease-dispensing apparatus consisting of a lubricant reservoir, a fluid reservoir, pumping means to convey the contents of the lubricant reservoir to a device to be lubricated and pumping means to convey the contents of the fluid reservoir to the lubricant reservoir to force the contents of the latter to the first mentioned pumping means, a volumecontrolling device, comprising, means, operable by the varying resistance offered to the feeding of the lubricant, to control the communications between the lubricant and fluid reservoirs and both of the pumping means.

2. In combination with a grease-dispensing apparatus consisting of a lubricant reservoir, a fluid-reservoir, pumping means to convey the contents of the lubricant reservoir to a device to be lubricated and pumping means to convey the contents of the fluid reservoir to the lubricant reservoir to force the contents of the latter to the first mentioned pumping means, a volumecontrolling device, comprising, means, operable by the varying resistance offered to the feeding of the lubricant, to open and close the communications between the lubricant and fluid reservoirs and both of the pumping means.

3. In combination with a grease-dispensing apparatusconsisting of a lubricant reservoir, a fluid reservoir, pumping means to convey the contents of the lubricant reservoir to a device to be lubricated and pumping means to convey the contents of the fluid reservoir to the lubricant reservoir to force the contents of the latter to the first mentioned pumping means, a volumecontrolling device, comprising, means, operable by the varying resistance offered to the feeding of the lubricant, to control the communications between the lubricant and fluid reservoirs and both of the pumping means, said means including a duplex valve.

4. In combination with a grease-dispensing apparatus consisting of a lubricant reservoir, a fluid reservoir, pumping means to convey the contents of the lubricant reservoir to a device to be lubricated and pumping means to convey the contents of the fluid reservoir to the lubricant reservoir to force the contents of the latter to the first mentioned pumping means, a volume-controlling device, comprising, means, operable by the varying resistance olfered to the feeding of the lubricant, to open and close the communications between the lubricant and fluid reservoirs and both of the pumping means, said means including a duplex valve.

5. In combination with a grease-dispensing apparatus consisting of a lubricant reservoir, a fluid reservoir, pumping means to convey the contents of the lubricant reservoir to a device to be lubricated and pumping means to convey the contents of the fluid reservoir to the lubricant reservoir to force the contents of the latter to the first mentioned pumping means, a volume-con-' trolling device, comprising, means, operableby the varying resistance offered to the feeding of of the lubricant reservoir to a device to be lufirst mentioned pumping means, a volume-0on trolling device, comprising, means, operable'by the varying resistance offered to the feeding of the lubricant, to open and close the communications between the lubricant and fluid reservoirs and both of the pumping means, said means'ineluding a spring-pressed duplex valve.

7. In combination with a grease-dispensing apparatus consisting of a lubricant reservoir, a fluid reservoir, pumping means to convey the contents of the lubricant reservoir to a device to be lubricated and pumping means to convey the contents of the fluid reservoir to the lubricant reservoir to force the contents of the latter to the first mentioned pumping means, a volume-controlling device, comprising, means, operable by the varying resistance offered to the feeding of the lubricant, to control the communications between the lubricant and fluid reservoirs and both of the pumping means, said means including a duplex valve, and means to adjust the degree of resistance at which said valve will operate.

8. In combination with a grease-dispensing apparatus consisting of a lubricant reservoir, a fluid reservoir, pumping means to convey the contents of the lubricant reservoir to a device to be lubricated and pumping means to convey the contents of the fluid reservoir to the lubricant reservoir to force the contents of the latter to the first mentioned pumping means, a volume-controlling device, comprising, means, operable by the varying resistance offered to the feeding of the lubricant, to open and close the communica-. tions between the lubricant and fluid reservoirs and both of the pumping means, said means including a duplex valve, and means to adjust the degree of resistance at which said valve will operate.

9. In combination with a grease-dispensing apparatus consisting of a lubricant reservoir, a fluid reservoir, pumping means to convey the contents of the lubricant reservoir to a device to be lubricated and pumping means to convey the contents of the fluid reservoir to the lubricant reservoir to force the contents of the latter to the first mentioned pumping means, a volume-controlling device, comprising, means, operable by the varying resistance offered to the feeding of the lubricant, to control the communications between the lubricant and fluid reservoirs and both of the pumping means, said means including av spring-pressed duplex valve, and means to adjust the degree of resistance at which said valve will operate.

10. In combination with a grease-dispensing apparatus consisting of a lubricant reservoir, a

fluid. reservoir, pumping means toconvey the contents of'the lubricant reservoir to a. device to be lubric'atedand pumping means. to convey the contents of the fluid reservoir to the lubricant reservoir to force the contents of the latter to the the lubricant, to open and close the communica-- tions between the lubricant and fluid reservoirs and. both of the pumping means, said means including a spring-pressed duplex valve, and means to adjust the degree of resistance at which'said valve will operate.

y ANTHONY BIZZARRI.

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